When I held a poll which was to determine the best "ongoing" fantasy series, I was expecting some surprises. But one series in particular received a vast number of votes, especially from people here!;) R. Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing garnered so many rave reviews that I knew I had to inquire about this one. For, like most fantasy fans, I had never heard of him or his books. Several people were more than a little surprised by his series' presence in our list of top "ongoing" series. Hopefully that will change soon!
The first volume is titled THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE. To put it simply, this is an impressive debut. One of the very best debut novels I have read in years. An intelligent work, in every run of the mill. Which is probably satisfy purists in a way that is seldom seen. Bakker has created something quite special. But the philosophical and religious aspects of this tale will indubitably prevent the series from becoming mainstream. Which, in the end, might allow it to retain its uniqueness in the fantasy genre.
THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE is a rare cross between Dune and The Lord of the Rings. It's obvious that Frank Herbert's epic has been a major influence on Bakker, both in form and on a deeper level. The format also follows that of the Dune books. But fear not, this is by no means a Dune rip-off. Bakker, although influenced by the master, has created a truly original universe.
Not since I've read Robert Jordan's The Eye of the World in the early 90s have I come across a work that resounds with such depth.
One of the only problems with this novel is that the pace is at times very slow. That wasn't a problem for me, because I could still appreciate the content, the worldbuilding, and everything else there is to like about this book. And the author has a lot of groundwork to initially set up, especially with the characters. But this could be a problem for a number of people, especially those who like a lot of action, fight scenes and brisk rhythm.
As I mentioned, this is an intelligent work, one that will appeal to readers who need more than the fluff produced by a majority of fantasy writers today. Philosophy and religion play a big role in this tale, which imbues it with a depth that is seldom encountered on the current market. The Darkness that Comes Before is for a mature audience. As a matter of fact, I think that only such an audience can appreciate the novel at its just value.
This could well be the beginning of a saga that could become a "must read!" work. . . We will have to wait and see if it lives up to those high expectations.
I'd love to hear from other people who have read this novel, and hear your thoughts on the subject. As for me, well I'm wondering how can this one be flying low under the radar...
Can't wait to start reading the sequel!!For those who are interested in learning more, you can read the full review on the weblog, as always...
Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
